Alois Ruf's testament to the original Porsche 911 Targa rolls into view, but there is no trumpeting 1960s engine here. There is near silence as the Ruf Greenster heads out the factory to the parking space out front. That's because this tribute to the past doesn't come with the traditional flat six engine. This is an electric 911 and proof positive that the future is going to be fun.

Electric cars have long been portrayed as little more than overgrown golf karts that would turn driving into a forgotten art. Tesla can take pretty much all of the credit for sexing up the EV car world, but Ruf has worked for years on this car and it takes plug-in power to a whole new level of refinement, luxury, style and performance.

Ruf is already a legend in petrol-vaping circles after his first self-built supercar that is known throughout the world as ‘Yellowbird' became the fastest production car in the world with a 211mph top speed back in the 80s. Since then Ruf has carved out a reputation for Porsche 911-based creations that are every bit as refined as the cars that leave the factory, with insane levels of power.

But there is another, greener side to Alois Ruf. His entire factory runs on power provided by his own hydroelectric plant and his electric 911 has been in the works for years. And while the likes of Audi now have a working prototype of its e-Tron out there, don't think that Ruf is the small fry crackpot in the garage by comparison. First, his reputation is too good for that and second technology giant Siemens is involved in the project.

Now it isn't the answer to all of our prayers as this car, as things stand, will cost more than $300,000 and Ruf will only build 20. This is going to be a status symbol, a special machine that represents the pinnacle of electric car performance. And it has to help green cars in general win the battle for hearts and minds.

It's 270kW motor roughly equates to 370 traditional horsepower, but more important is the epic level of torque – 700lb/ft that is all ready and waiting from 0rpm. And it leaves the line with surreal, serene, silence. There is no engine noise, nothing more than the suspension creaking under duress, the car just glides away from a standstill at a frightening rate of knots. There's a real jolt in the back and then it just flies off the line.

There is so much torque that the traditional gearbox is redundant, the car would stay in sixth the whole time, so now there is just a single ratio that is more than enough to take the car to 100kph in 4.9s and all the way to 250kph. At speed the whistling whirr of the magnets join the roar of the tyres, which isn't quite as romantic as an oily engine, but then it does have its own futuristic charm.

And with no gearchanges and a deep well of torque at all revs, the car takes off everywhere with a shove of the right foot.

The only real downside of electric power when it comes to outright performance is the weight of the battieres, which hampers the car in the bend itself. But even that is getting better. The original Ruf electric 911 prototype weighed 1900kg, but this new car is down to 1695kg thanks to clever use of the old-school Targa design. Ruf thought I could help to present such cutting edge technology behind a familiar face, none of that ventilation is necessary, for instance, but it also made a number of weight savings with the simple design.

It's still heavy and that weight tugs on the car's hips in the bends, but the next generation Greenster will come with two separate motors for the rear wheels, which will help reduce the weight, lower the centre of gravity and help the electric car get that bit closer to a traditional petrol-powered Ruf.

This is simply the next step in a long and profitable journey for Alois Ruf. The Godfather of the tuning scene has changed direction at exactly the right time and is once again a pioneer, leading the way with refined, luxurious and sporting electric cars. And if he can get the Greenster down to its natural fighting weight, he could have another icon on his hands.

2011 Ruf Greenster
Base price: $350,000
Type of vehicle: RWD electric sportscar
Motor: 270kW Electric Motor
Power/Torque: 270kW (363bhp)/700lb/ft
Transmission: single ratio
0-100kph: 4.9s
Top speed: 120mph